Automatic weight-rope-releasing attachment for looms



May 12, 1925. 7 1,537,604

J. A. HANN GAN AUTOMATIC WEIGHT ROPE RELEASING ATTACHMENT FOR LOOMS Filed Auz. 1924 Patented May 12, 1925.

Ll'N-il T ED STATES.

JAMES HANNIG-AN, OF KINGSTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHT-IROPERELEASING ATTACHMENT FOB LOOMS.

Application filed August 11, 1924. Serial No. 731,834.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Jar-mics A. I'IANNIGAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kingston, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic lVeight-Rope-Rele-asing Attachments for Looms, of which the following is a' specification.

The invention relates to an attachment for looms designed to automatically release the warp from the warp beam, regularly and positively while the loom is in operation, and in the exact length required for the weaving operation.

In other devices of this character the letoii' movement is not mechanically positive in its action but depends on the increasing tension ot the warp to overcome th triotion andto move the friction elements of the various devices. This feature renders them unreliable and uncertain in operation as they are affected by weather conditions, humidity, temperature, etc. Furthermore, inmany prior devices, there are complicated parts which get out of order, or dirt and oil may accumulate under the tension parts making frequent adjustments necessary.

The present device is simple in its operationand is entirely automatic and positive in its action. T he letoil is even and regular under all conditions and corresponds e ctly with the warp take-up, thus removing the cause of uneven clot-h, the elimination of whichv defect is the principal object of the present invention.

The invention is applicable to all devices for tensioning warps that lack a positive let-oft it will, however, be particularly described with reference to the well known weighted rope type of tensioning device in which ropes are coiled about the "friction drums at each end of the warp beam, each rope being provided at one end with a weight heavy enough to give the warp the desired tension, while to the other end is secured acounter weight. With this type of device, when the loom is in operation, the counter weight keeps the coil tight around the drum and hangs close to the floor while the heavy weight hangs in the air holding the warp tight. As the warp is being woven into the cloth it is drawn forward off the warp roll, whereupon the counter weight drops to the floor, thus slackening the coils releasing the friction drum andv permitting the warp rollto turn.v

-Without the present attachment, when the cloth is being woven, it is drawn forward evenly with apositive motion with every revolution of the loom, but the weighted ropes do not, release the warpwith the same regularity. Owing to weather conditions and other obscure causes, the weight ropes sometimes stick to the drums and do not release until the increased tension becomes. great enough to overcome the tendency to stick. The rope then releases with a. jerk, resulting in uneven slippage. The cloth that is woven under these conditions is very irregular and is called barred cloth. This is a serious defect in goods.

The attachment, which forms the subject oi the present invention, overcomes this defeet by causing the weighted ropes to release the warp automatically and regularly with every revolution of the loom, as the cloth is woven.

The invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the accompanying S0 drawings in which is shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing. the two members of the attachment applied respectively to weight rope and to a fixed portion of the frame of the loom.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of a reduced scale showing the attachment and a frag mentary portion of the loom.

Figs. 3 and 4 are perspective views showing respectively, the movable and stationary members of the attachment.

Referring. to. the drawings by numbers, the reference numeral 10 denotes the usual beam or roll of a loom, which may be provided at each end with a flange or drum 11 about which is coiled a weighted rope 12. If desired the drum 11 may be dispensed with and the rope. coiled about the end of the warp roll. The warp which is coiled about the roll 10 is indicated by the numeral l3 and passes over the guide roller 14 to the weaving mechanism of the loom, not shown.

To one end of the rope 12 is secured a weight 15 heavy enough to give the warp the desired tension. On the other end of the rope is secured a counterweight 1 Vhen the loom is in operation, the counterweight keeps the coil tight around the flange or drum 11 and hangs close to the floor, while the weight 15 hangs in the air holding the warp tight.

In order to cause the weight ropes to re lease the warp automatically and regularly with every revolution of the loom an attachment is provided comprising a member 17 secured to the rope and movable therewith, and a fixed member 18 which is secured to a portion of the frame of the loom as at 19. The rope member 17 preferably comprises a pair of castings which grip the rope and are adjustably clamped thereto by means of a bolt 20 and nut 21. This casting is preferably secured to the rope coil which is nearest the counterweight.

The member 18 is made fast at some suitable place and is stationary. The stationary member acts as a stop to'the bumper 17 when the weight ropes are in the proper position for weaving, being normally set close together as indicated in Fig. 1.

When the loom is in operation there is imparted to the warp roll a rocking or vibrating movement due to the opening and closing of the shed. This action forces the bumper 17 hard against the stop 18. This engagement then shoves the bumper and rope coils backwardly releasing the flange or drum 11, regularly with every revolution of the loom. The coils of rope are thus prevented from sticking, the bumper and stop acting as a positive release to the flange or drum, releasing the warp regularly while the loom is in operation, and in the exact length required.

It will be noted that during the operation of the loom while weaving, the warp beam 10 and flange or friction drum 11 are continuously vibrating through a small arc causing the bumper 17 which is attached to the weight-rope coil to strike the stop 18 at every revolution of the loom. The bumper is shoved backwardly, causing the weighted rope coils to slip with it and letting off exactly enough warp to correspond with the take-up as the cloth is woven.

The device is positive and automatic in its action, and the let-01f even and regular under all conditions.

The invention has been described with reference to a particular type of let-off mechanism, but it is obvious that it is applicable to all devices of this character which lack a positive let off. i

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is 1. A loom attachment comprising, in combination with the warp roll or beam, a tensioned rope looped about said beam, a bumper secured to one of the loops of the rope and adapted to vibrate with the warp roll or beam during operation of the loom, and a fixed stop adapted to intermittently engage said bumper, due to vibratory movement of the warp roll or beam.

( 2. A loom attachment comprising in combination with the warp roll or beam, a rope coiled about said beam, a bumper secured to one of the coils of the rope and adapted to vibrate with said warp roll or beam during operation of said loom, and a stop adapt-- ed to engage said bumper at each revolution of the loom.

3. A loom attachment, comprising in combination with the warp roll or beam, a weighted rope looped about the end of the beam, a bumper secured to one of the loops of the rope and adapted to vibrate with said beam at each revolution of the loom, and a fixed stop adapted to engage said bumper.

4. A loom attachment comprising in combination with the warp roll or beam, means for letting off the warp to correspond with the take up as the cloth is woven, comprising a weighted rope looped about the end of the beam, a bumper secured to one of the loops of said rope and adapted to vibrate during operation of the loom, and a stop adapted to engage said bumper at each revolution of the loom.

5. A loom attachment as defined in claim 4 on which the bumper is adjustable.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature.

JAMES A. HANNIGAN. 

